Surabaya will never be free from floods, but the city is determined to control them by deploying an integrated strategy that involves all stakeholders, mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono says.
City authorities are dredging main rivers flowing through the city and maximizing the use of 30 pump houses to minimize flood-affected areas, while the long-term program is implemented, Bambang said Monday.
"I don't know when the city will be free from floods, but it could be controlled while the flood integrated strategy is implemented," he said, adding that despite its three environmental and sanitation awards, the city was still flooded each wet season.
Bambang delivered a keynote address at a workshop on water resources and irrigation management jointly organized by the Collaborative Knowledge Network (CKNet) and the 10 November Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS).
Anggrahini, an expert of water resources management from ITS, concurred and said the city administration had to work harder to control floods within an hour of their onset.
"Slum areas are prone to displacement and inundated roads are prone to crimes and congestion unless floodwater subsides within the hour."
She urged the provincial and city authorities to maintain water flow at River Porong. The river could contribute to floods in the city if the silting-up of the river continued because of the mudflow from the Lapindo Brantas Inc. mining site in Porong, Siadoarjo.
Bambang said municipal authorities were developing primary, secondary and tertiary drainage systems, rehabilitating slum areas and intensifying the reforestation program along coastal areas to minimize the impact of flooding and to make Surabaya a safe and healthy city to live in.
In cooperation with universities and local NGOs, the city administration has planted 10,000 mangrove trees at the Mangrove Center in Bozen Wonorejo, Rungkut, to stop abrasion and flooding during monsoons.
The city is also adding more pump house in areas prone to flooding.
"We have established 30 pump houses costing up to Rp 50 billion each and we will purchase 30 more. This project will be financed by the city's annual budget in stages," Bambang said.
He said flood control canals were constructed in cooperation with NGOs, ITS and universities in the city and sister cities Tokyo and Guangzhou.
Canals were constructed with pump houses on downstream areas in Kebong Agung, Kali Bokor, Kali Balong, Wonorejo, Kalisari and Sememi.
Bambang said the city government would continue rehabilitating slum areas by building low-cost flats with healthy sanitation facilities.
He also said residents should also play an active role in keeping their environment clean and by building small canals to prevent flooding.
"Residents should not dispose of their household waste in the river."
CKNet flood expert Jan T.L. Yap said a comprehensive solution to the flood problem depended on how the relevant stakeholders handled the technical, culture, human resource aspects of the issue.
"The government cannot have a monopoly over drainage and road engineering, the master plan and funding anymore. The construction of drainage and other infrastructure should not be based on project-oriented approaches, but rather on problem-solving approaches involving relevant stakeholders," he said.
The government and NGOs should encourage residents to maintain all infrastructure, Jan said.
"They must take an active part in designing the city's master plan to create a healthy and disaster-free environment."
